Waterproof and buoyant fabric.



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WATERPROOF AND BUOYANT FABRIC.

AvPucAnoN HLED MAY 24. I91].

Hhtlflgog UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS P. HEISDOBF, OF NEW YORK, N Y.

WATERPROOF AND BUOYANT FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27', 1918.

Application filed May 24 1917. Serial No, I70,l595.

declare the following to he a full. clear. and

exact description of the invention. surhas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in waterproof and buoyant fabrics adapted to be used in the manufacture of bathing suits, rainproof garn'ieuts, and thelike.

The primary object is to provide a fabric incorporating kapok in its weave, whereby a person wearing a bathing suit made therefrom will be prevented from sinking: below the surface of the. water,

Another objert. to provide a kapok fabric which will be buoyant and waterproof and well adapted for use in the manufacture of water iroof wearing apparel now made from rub r, and at the same time 'n'ov'idiug awarmer garment thau'that made from rubber.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of construction and arrangement of the parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more pa rti .:ularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 isa longitudinal section of my in'iproved fabric showing loops of kapok depending therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the fabric showing kapok incorporated therein;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1. but showing the loops of kapok out; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional vietv of a fabric including the kapok tufts flattened and held in place by a suitable lining. 1

Similar numerals of reference are em ploycd to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

worsted In the. manufacture of my kapok fabric a base. or supporting fabric 1 made up of \\'a rp rands 2 and weft or Woof tiller strands 3 is made, and this is preferably woven or knitted quite loosely. It i, o be understood that any desired material the strands of which possess a comparatively large tensile strength may be used in forming this base 1. but I preferably eniploy wool 0r loosely woven, as. hereinbefore slated.

Pile tufts ot" kupok -l are then woven into the meshes of the fabric 1 and looped over t.he weft threads the ends ofsnid tufts being flattened or spread out to cover the surface of the fabric and to serve as a means for retaining said tufts in the meshes. The kapok is woven into the base or supporting fabric .1 in the manner now to be de scribed.

Preferably every second warp strand 5 is formed from kapok, and. in weaving, one side of the base 1 is provided with a pllu rality of loops 6 formed from the kapok strands f1 and after a desired length of cloth is thus formed it is passed through a machine which cuts the kapok 100 s 6, thereby forming tufts. The tufts are tlien flattened as ln-reinbefoi'e stated and a lining cloth 7 is placed over said ends and quilted to the base 1 inany desired design so as toretain the tufts in proper position.

It will be. readily understood that the kapok strands i may "woven parallel with the. weft. strands 3 oi the base 1 as welli a with the warp strands 2, or they {hay woven in both directions, thereby roviding a greater buoyant and waterproo? surface. It is to be understood that this fabric may be used without the lining 7, although it IS preferable to use it witha lining. 5 1

From lllle fOIti oing description taken in connection witht eaceompanyin drawin l the construction of my liapok fa. ric will readily understood, but it is to be I under; stood that within the scope of tho-a pended} claims numerous changes may m3. e with out sacrificing the principal advantagea;.

I claim:

l. A buoyant fabric made up of an open mesh base fabric, the strands of which possess a comparatively lar e tensile stren .h and kapok incorporated in the mes es thereof.

A buoyant fabric made up of an open mesh base fabric including warp and weft strands, kapok tufts looped around said 10 strands and having their ends spread out on said base, and a lining to cover said ends and to be connected to said base fabric.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand-in the presence *of two subscribing witnesses.

NICHOLAS P. HEISDORE.

Witnesses FRANZ HOFFMANN, R. Enqmws. 

